Doctoral Scholarships (Ettersberg Foundation)

The Ettersberg Foundation awards doctoral completion scholarships of €1,500 per month for a duration of six months annually. The aim is to specifically support early-career researchers in the field of European dictatorship studies during the final phase of their dissertation. Funding is provided to individuals pursuing a doctorate at a European university who contribute to the study of dictatorships and their overcoming through their project. Eligibility requires a completed university degree in history, social sciences, or cultural studies, as well as enrollment in a doctoral program at a European university. Eligible expenses include living costs. Selection is based on the recommendation of the Scientific Advisory Board, taking into account the quality of the exposé, a sample chapter, and the significance of the project for the Foundation’s objectives.

The call for applications for the completion scholarship is usually announced annually; exact deadlines are published on the Ettersberg Foundation’s website. Required application materials include, among others, an exposé (max. 5 pages), a sample chapter (max. 10 pages), an outline of the dissertation, a curriculum vitae in tabular form, evaluations from supervising university professors, and proof of the previous degree certificate. Scholars benefit not only from financial support but also from a professional network, which includes the advanced seminar at the Chair of European Dictatorship Comparison at the University of Jena, as well as the opportunity to present research findings at Foundation events. The program is therefore aimed at doctoral candidates in the final phase of their work who seek a high-caliber forum for their research.